Maharashtra Politics: Before the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections in Maharashtra, there is once again a stir in the state. Amid internal differences in the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, today (January 20) Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray suddenly reached to meet NCP (SP) President Sharad Pawar. The meeting between Thackeray and Pawar lasted for more than an hour. However, due to the absence of Congress leaders in this meeting, many speculations have gained momentum in the political circles.
Ignoring Congress?
It is noteworthy that no senior Congress leader was seen in this meeting. NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil said, ‘No Congress leader was present in the meeting because Uddhav Thackeray only wanted to meet Sharad Pawar.’
Pawar took the lead to bridge the differences
Sharad Pawar, who played an important role in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, has taken the lead to resolve the differences in the MVA. He had recently said, ‘We will call a meeting of the three alliance forces Nationalist Congress Party (SP), Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress to discuss contesting the next BMC elections.’
Shiv Sena (UBT) will contest elections alone
On the other hand, Shiv Sena (UBT) has announced to contest BMC elections alone. A statement issued by the party said, ‘As per the ‘Bharat’ alliance formed at the national level and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance formed in Maharashtra, we are each other’s partners only in the national and state level elections. We have neither discussed nor proposed contesting elections at the local level.
Notably, political allies traditionally contest local elections independently, but this announcement by Shiv Sena (UBT) has raised many doubts about the future of the MVA.
